Holiday man runs red light, hurt in wreck

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 23, 2006

A 26-year-old Holiday man was seriously injured early Friday when he ran a red light and collided with another car. Carlos Robinson of 3136 Primrose Drive was driving south on Sawyer Road in a 2006 Hyundai about 3:25 a.m. when he ran the stoplight at Hillsborough Avenue, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. His car was struck by Cosme Torres, 58, of Tampa, who was driving west on Hillsborough in an Isuzu truck. Robinson's car spun off the road and struck three utility poles and a fence. He was ejected, the patrol said. Robinson was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. Torres sustained minor injuries. No charges have been filed.

Motorcycle rider critically injured

A Tampa man was in critical condition Friday after his motorcycle collided with a car on Waters Avenue Thursday night. Joselito Gonzalez, 34, was driving a Suzuki motorcycle on Waters Avenue about 11 p.m., when Marcos A. Lerdo, 18, attempted to pull out of private property in his 1994 Honda. The motorcycle struck the vehicle's left rear side, overturned, caught fire and slid 303 feet before coming to rest, the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office said. Gonzalez was transported to Tampa General Hospital for his injuries. The case is under investigation.

Burglars strike two restaurants

Two back-to-back burglaries at restaurants on U.S. 19 led to multiple arrests this week, but police were still looking for others connected to the break-ins. The first burglary occurred at Cody's Original Roadhouse in the early morning hours of Dec. 16, police reported. The burglars stole the safe and its contents. The second happened the next night when two juveniles reportedly broke into Cravings On the Water and stole the safe. Crystal River police Chief Steve Burch said he thinks the cases are connected because of the similarities. "We are a small town," he said. "When we have two businesses where safes were stolen back to back, it's a little too coincidental."

Store owner slain during robbery

Pasco County authorities Friday were looking for the person who killed the owner of a Trilacoochee convenience store during a robbery. Rahul Patel, 55, was shot to death in his store, PK's Food Store, on Thursday. Deputies were looking for a black man, 20 to 30 years old, with bushy dreadlocks, who may have been driving a red, older-model full-size car, possibly a Lincoln, with tinted windows.